China on Thursday called for joint efforts to continue developing the China-Japan ties along the right path.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the call while meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on the sidelines of this year's UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the two sides should consolidate their political foundations, follow the correct direction, and manage and control their differences in a constructive way, Wang said.

He stressed President Xi Jinping's recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian city of Vladivostok provides clear political guidance for the next stage of bilateral relations.

The Chinese foreign minister told Kono that the two sides should highly cherish and carefully maintain the hard-won momentum of improvement of bilateral ties and should learn from the past's lessons to solve the problems affecting the healthy development of China-Japan relations.

He added China and Japan should always adhere to the four political documents signed by the two sides, properly handle sensitive issues concerning history and Taiwan.

Wang also noted Japan should put the positive recognition into action that China's development is an opportunity for Japan so as to guarantee the development of bilateral relations along the track of improvement.

China is willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Japan in the fields of economy, trade, finance, and innovation and strengthen cultural exchanges among young people and local governments, he added.

The Chinese foreign minister also stressed as important neighbors and major economies of the world, both China and Japan have the responsibility to work together to safeguard the multilateral process, international trading system, and international laws and rules. 

Kono expressed his gratitude to China for its condolences to Japan's recent typhoon and earthquake disasters.

He said that his country is pleased that the development of Japan-China relations has gone back to the right track and believed the significance of improving bilateral relations will transcend bilateral categories.

Japan is ready to work with China to enhance cooperation in economy, culture and local exchanges and properly manage differences to make full preparations for the next stage's development of bilateral ties, Kono added.

He also said Japan hopes to strengthen communication with China in international and regional affairs. 

(Top image: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono shake hands ahead of their talks at the UN headquarters in New York, September 27, 2018. /VCG Photo)